It's not as crazy as it sounds. Clinton is most likely out because A: She doesn't want it, and B: Obama doesn't want to give it to her. Edwards was out because he already tried that last time around. So, somebody else then.

Republican strategists trying to game Sen. Barack Obama's choice for a running mate are focusing more and more on the possibility that he might pick former House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, a friend of labor and blue-collar workers. "Gephardt is the one we're most afraid of," said a key GOP strategist and Bush ally.

Gephardt has run for the presidency and scored well among the types of voters Obama is trying to reach out to--lower and middle-class workers, laborers, and minorities. Another strategist said that Gephardt presents a friendly face of liberalism that would be hard to attack. He also has a deep well of support among House Democrats, who they believe would rally around an Obama-Gephardt ticket, especially the allies of Sen. Hillary Clinton.

He could make up for many Obama weaknesses among the blue collared crowd, and could be the bridge between the new and old Democrats. So yes, it could be Gephardt. Also among those running in the Dem primary in 2004, Gephardt was the only one I was afraid of. I was relieved when they chose the grand dufus John Kerry. (Gephardt would never have made a cringeworthy moment like "reporting for duty")

Downsides to Gephardt? He generates little excitement and appears to have no eyebrows. Oh and also, he is apparently being picked by GOP strategists, so it could be a Republican dirty trick. Be careful.